More than a third of Asbos are breached

More than a third of anti- social behaviour orders, the Government's flagship attempt to curb louts and vandals, are breached, according to official figures released yesterday.

More than a third of anti- social behaviour orders, the Government's flagship attempt to curb louts and vandals, are breached, according to official figures released yesterday.

Between June 2000 and December 2002, 305 out of 855 Asbos issued in England were flouted, a total of 36 per cent. Of those who broke the terms of the orders, 152 were given a custodial sentence, 93 received community sentences and 60 received other sentences, according to a spokeswoman for the Home Office.

Hazel Blears, the Home Office minister, said: "The latest figures I have seen were that about one third of Asbos were breached. Some led to custodial sentences, some did not. But two thirds are not breached so the communities are able to live in peace and not in fear."

The details came to light as Ms Blears launched an attack on the stance taken by the Liberal Democrats on crime and anti-social behaviour. Labour has produced tens of thousands of credit-card sized cards condemning the Liberal Democrats as "soft on crime", because they repeatedly voted against the Government's initiatives.

At a press conference in Westminster, Ms Blears said: "I'm angry that at every possible opportunity the Liberal Democrats have set out to frustrate us on acting for the decent, law-abiding people of this country. They voted against the Anti-Social Behaviour Act and against the dispersal powers [which allow police to break up groups of youths in public places]."

Mark Oaten, the Liberal Democrats' home affairs spokesman, said: "Labour are running scared and no wonder, considering that so many Asbos fail to work and so many fixed penalties go unpaid. The Lib Dems would have 10,000 additional police and free them from paperwork with new technology, and would put prisoners through a tough regime of education and training.''